Chapter 58
Zarek smiled coldly.
His beautiful eyes were so deep they seemed unfathomalile, ”
“Are you really this confident I won’t find Ber
Victor sat back downs, his voice filled with indignation. “When you’re determined to find fault, an excuse will do. If you want to use this as an opportunity to dismiss me, Mr. Weasley, just say in directly. There’s no need for these hairless accusations
“I’m asking you about Miss Whtmare’s whereabouts!”
The sound of a fist slamming the table suddenly echoed through the room.
Zarek’s mood shifted with alarming speed–one moment inscrutably calm, the next with the sharpness of an unsheathed blade.
Victor’s pupils dilated in shock
But he quickly regained his composure, maintaining a “truth fears no fire” demeanor as he answered defiantly, “I don’t know where Miss Whitmore int If you insist on connecting me to this, then produce your evidence
His words were forceful and uncompromising
Zarek reined in his anger, his expression turning glacial.
His heart grew cold as well.
His deliberate aggressive questioning was meant to observe Victor’s instinctive reactions. Unlike Mateus, Victor showed no panic whatsoever. Particularly when asked if he was confident Charlotte wouldn’t be found, he had even displayed a hint of satisfaction and relief
Had she really disappeared?…
His palm closed into a fist.
“I have what some might call a bad habit–I circle the wagons. Anyone who touches my people will suffer a fate worse than death, evidence or not. Mr. Ferreira clearly can’t wait to experience this firsthand.”
Victor swallowed hard as he mat Zarek’s gate–cold and mechanical as if looking at a corpse.
Then he reasured himself: What was there to fear? Mateus was the one who locked her up. If she jumped out a window to her death, that was her choice! What did it have to do with him?
“Mr. Weasley, I understand your concern over Miss Whitmore’s disappearance. We’re all concerned. If you need someone to vent your frustration on and you’ve chosen Mateus and me, we won’t complain”
“I only ask that you don’t take out your anger on the others. They’ve done nothing wrong.”
“We’ve all given our all to this company. Treating loyal employees this way over some pretty face will only demoralize everyone.”
As he spoke, tears welled in his eyes.
Those in the conference room who weren’t involved began to sympathize with his words, silently resenting Zarek.
Victor was deliberately stirring up emotions, especially Olivia’s,
Sure enough, Olivia’s expression visibly darkened with resentment.
Zareks enveloped in a deally cold aura
At this moment, Res, who had stepped out to take a call, returned with an excited expression. He burried to Zarek’s side and whispered, “Mateus confessed. She’s being hold at his family’s old house.”
“sar will go there. Take some people and search within a five kilometer radius around the house.
“But the house is by the sea.”
The Moment Let Go My Uncle: Examine
Zarek’s heart lightened. The and feeling intensified, seeping inin his marrow.
Disposme of a body at sea would insdevil make it nearly impossible to find.
Seeing no relief in his expression, only increasing gravity, Rex had a terrible impicion.
Without time to think further e ask questions, he quickly left the conference rooon, following Zarek’s instructions to organize a search within a five kilometer radiis of the limits.
The room watched their quiet exchange and Rexxbasty departure with curiomis glances.
Had they found her?
These involved in the kidnapping broke tain a cold sweat again.
Victor inwardly seered. That useless Mateus must have been taught and confessed
He put on an art of concern. “Has there been news of Miss Whitmore?
Zarek noticed the quickly concealed mockery at the corner of bis mouth. If possible, he would have liked to follow Insar’s example and crack this scum’s skull open without further discussion
Indeed…” he drawled, watching Victor’s expression freeze slightly before continuing, “Are you afraid, Mr. Ferreira?
Victor was momentarily stunned before breaking into laughter. “What do I have to fear? If she’s been found, I couldn’t be happier. Finally, my innocence can be proven. That’s wonderful”
Emph, kid, even if you find her, it’ll only be her corpse. Stop trying to intimidate mue.
“Does Miss Whitmore really matter that much?!”
Olivia finally exploded
She slammed her handbag onto the table forcefully. Since arriving, she had seen and heard enough of his concern for another
He had never been this worried about argune
before
Women
Zarek raised his eyes to look at her.
His expression was severe, commanding respect without anger. “Do you know why she came to the factory, or why she’s missing?”
That’s ridiculous. I’m the general manager of this branch. Why should I concern myself with a secretary who’s been employed for less than three days?” Olivia’s words were prickly with hurt. “But you, the CEO of an entire corporation, creating such a commation over a secretary–anyone would think your wife had gone missing”
“Olivia, if you would spend as much attention on your actual job as you do on me, your mind wouldn’t be so dull.
Olivia’s eyes reddened.
That he would ridicule and humiliate her for Charlotte’s saket “Yes, Fm dull I should resign as general manager. Til call the Chairman right now to subanit my resignation!”
Without hesitation, she called Arthur Weasley, Zarek’s father and Chairman of Dominox, putting the call on speaker.
Zarek observed coldly, making no move to stop her.
Once connected, Olivia related everything that had happened to Arthur.
Her voice broke several times as she described how Zarek was tormenting every and protecting his new secretary. Her words painted Zarek as a tyrant and Charlotte as some sort of manipulative seductress.
Victor consoled her, deliberately making his voice audible on the call
Arthur questioned him as well, and Victor responded with exaggerated respect, his words dripping with tragic nobility.
Finally, he sighed, “Chairman, if Ms. Waldorf resigns, I’ll resign too. Better to leave on our own terms than be dismissed. At least we’ll maintain some
kataan Penina the Forbidden Past.
Chapter 58
dignity.”
With both threatening to q
to quit, others in the room joined in, declating they would leave as well.
Seeing the situation spiral, Olivia began to realize she was being manipulated, but it was too late to salvage things for Zarek.
She looked anxiously at him, but he sat with arms crossed, completely composed, not even glancing her way.
“Zarek, what do you have to say?” Arthur gave his son the final opportunity to explain.
Only then did Zarek speak. “Father, haven’t you realized that this performance is the true face of what this inspection has revealed?”
His voice was calm as water.
ster, yet cut straight to the heart of the matter.
He had stripped away their disguises, revealing their true nature.
Olivia’s face fluctuated between red and purple.
She protested, “You’re the one who’s lost perspective over a woman! You’re mixing personal and professional matters! Why are you protecting her? Why do you care about her? Have you fallen for her? She has a husband!”
“Olivia!”
Zarek’s sharp rebuke cut through the air.
His eyes were filled with disappointment. “Is romance all you can think about? I just asked if you knew why Miss Whitmore came to the factory, but you don’t care to know. All you care about is whether I like her, whether I’m interested in ber.”
“You say I care about her–yes, I do care right now, because she discovered a problem you failed to find in two years! She came here to investigate financial irregularities on my behalf”
Olivia froze.
The disappointment in his eyes cut her to the quick
His implication that Charlotte was more competent filled her with maddening jealousy. She couldn’t accept it. “Just because she claims there’s a problem, there is one? Just because she found something, she’s right?”
joined in. “I agree with Ms. Waldorf. Are we supposed to accept her word as gospel? Even if there actually is a financial issue, why didn’t she notify the company first? Why not tell Ms. Waldorf? Wasn’t she just trying to impress you?”
Victor
“Because there’s a traitor Like you in the company!”
A weak female voice came from the doorway.
Chapter 59
